When most people think of Christmas, they think of warm fires, cozy sweaters, and spending time with family. For many Italians, Christmas is all about the food. From savory dishes to sweet treats, there's no shortage of amazing holiday eats in Italy. So if you're looking for some inspiration for your Christmas feast, keep reading for a rundown of some of the best Italian Christmas foods and drinks. Buon Natale!
![Italy christmas Food and Drinks pin.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/italy-christmas-food-drinks-featute.jpg)
In Italy, there is technically no “Christmas dinner.” Christmas Day is celebrated with a lunchtime feast.
Still, during our time in Italy, we have been able to enjoy traditional Italian Christmas dinner feats thanks to our local friends, who were eager to show us festive season dishes, including wheat pasta and several holiday table staples.
On Christmas eve dinner, you need to start with a good selection of appetizers, comprising some of the traditional Italian Christmas food.
A classic Italian Christmas meal has several courses, including appetizers, main dishes, side dishes (called contorni), desserts, and drinks.
Although each region has its own Christmas traditions, pasta always is always part of an Italian meal and should have a place on the Christmas table; maybe a unique version, such as baked pasta, or filled pasta like ravioli with a particularly cold season filling such as foraged dried mushrooms.
Risotto is also often part of the Christmas menu, especially in northern Italy.
Some traditional Christmas foods include candied fruit, Italian sausage, and meat dishes like roast lamb, salt cod, or roasted veal.
Jump to:
Appetizers or first course
![vegan gnocchi in tomato sauce.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/1.-vegan-gnocchi-in-tomato-sauce-close-up-360x360.jpg)
Easy Vegan Gnocchi with a Simple Tomato Sauce
![white bean soup featured image](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/bean-vegetable-soup-authentic-tuscan-ribollita-7979-feature-360x360.jpg)
Tuscan White Bean Soup
![stuffed portobello mushrooms featured image](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6804-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Easy Stuffed Portobello Mushroom Recipe
![Eggplants Involtini](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_4455-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Eggplant Involtini
![italian farro salad.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2.-Italian-Farro-360x360.jpeg)
Italian Farro Salad
![rosemary focaccia bread recipe](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6563-360x360.jpg)
Rosemary Focaccia Bread Recipe
![tomato bruschetta.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/3.-tomato-bruschetta-closeup-360x360.jpeg)
Tomato Bruschetta
Make it with your homemade Italian Pagnotta Crusty bread.
![easy bread loaf](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6390-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Italian Artisan Bread (Pagnotta)
Main course
![vegan gluten-free lasagna featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/vegan-gluten-free-lasagna-04560-360x360.jpg)
Easy Vegan Gluten-Free Lasagna
![vegan butternut squash ravioli featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/butternut-squash-ravioli-vegan-8511-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Butternut Squash Ravioli
![vegan vegetable casserole featured.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/vegan-vegetable-casserole-5-4-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Vegetable Casserole
![creamy eggplant pasta with tomato ricotta sauce.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/creamy-eggplant-pasta-0035-360x360.jpg)
Roasted Eggplant Pasta Sauce
![plated vegan mushroom risotto](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_5146-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Creamy Vegan Mushroom Risotto
![livornese stewed beans.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Livornese-stewed-beans-2-of-5-360x360.jpeg)
Livornese Stewed Beans
![Vegan Polenta Recipe](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_3025-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Baked Polenta Recipe with Tofu Ragout
![sun-dried tomato risotto recipe featured image](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_7053-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Risotto
![red wine risotto featured.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/red-wine-risotto-7400035-360x360.jpg)
Red Wine Risotto
Side dishes (contorni)
![Rapini Broccolini Rabe with garlic.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/5.-Rapini-Broccoli-Rabe-with-Garlic-Pic-2-360x360.jpeg)
Broccoli Rabe with Garlic
![Broccoli Romanesco](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6633-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
How to Cook Romanesco Broccoli
![Roman-Style Artichokes](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_5898-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Roman-Style Artichokes (Carciofi alla Romana)
![white asparagus served](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_9987-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
White Asparagus Recipe
![Italian sauteed escarole.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/6.-Italian-Sauteed-Escarole-Recipe-Picture-360x360.jpeg)
Italian Sautéed Escarole Recipe
![pan-grilled asparagus with flaked almonds.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_9174-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Pan-grilled Asparagus with Toasted Flaked Almonds
Italian Christmas Desserts
You will always find a Panetonne in every Christmas lunch, whether in the Northern, Central, or Southern Region; However, this delicious treat was born in the North, but other Italian desserts are easier to make at home.
![Lombardian Panettone](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_4725.jpg)
![Pangiallo Romano and Coffee](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6359-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Pangiallo Romano (Roman Christmas Cake)
![Italian lemon sorbet.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/7.-italian-lemon-sorbet-6-scaled-1-360x360.jpeg)
Lemon Sorbet Recipe
![Italian vegan amaretti cookies.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/8.-Vegan-Amaretti-360x360.jpeg)
Vegan Amaretti
![vegan orange and cranberry biscotti.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/9.-vegan-orange-and-cranberry-biscotti-360x360.jpeg)
Orange and Cranberry Biscotti
![almond biscotti.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/10.-slices-of-almond-biscotti-on-a-white-surface-360x360.jpeg)
Vegan Almond Biscotti
![brown sugar candied walnuts in a bowl.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/brown-sugar-candied-walnuts-christmas-3-1-360x360.jpg)
Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts (10 Minutes + Vegan GF)
![traditional Italian Zeppole donnuts.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11.-Traditional_Zeppole_Recipe-360x360.jpeg)
Zeppole Italian Doughnuts
Drinks
![cranberry gin smash.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/12.-cranberry-gin-smash-360x360.jpg)
Cranberry Gin Fizz
![cynar amaro drink.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/13.-Cynar-OF-11-360x360.jpeg)
Old Fashioned Amaro
Here are some delicious hot Christmas drinks and we are sure you will enjoy.
![Spiced Red Wine Liqueur](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/14.-senza-titolo-360x360.jpeg)
Spiced Red Wine Liqueur
![limoncello spritz](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Limoncello-Spritz-360x360.jpg)
Limoncello Spritz
![Italian Vegan Hot chocolate.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/15.-Italian-Vegan-Hot-Chocolate-360x360.jpg)
Italian Hot Chocolate
We hope you enjoyed reading about the delicious food and drinks traditionally served during Christmas in Italy. Just thinking about them makes us hungry! We can't wait to start cooking up some of these festive dishes. Will you join us? Let's get cooking!
As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.
Andrea
so many yummy recipes! thanks for such a great line up of goodies!